Golden Cage Mommy Mutiny (Elyse) novel Chapter 40

I ran straight into Selina on the stairs.

She stopped short when she saw me hovering near her door. “Michele, what are you doing outside my room?”

My heart tightened, but I put on a gentle smile. “I heard Mom and Dad have bought you a lot of jewelry over the years. I’ve been stuck lately, so I thought I’d come borrow some inspiration.”

The suspicion on her face softened instantly, replaced by greedy delight.

Of course it did. If I started designing again, she could steal it again.

She stepped closer and looped her arm through mine. “Mom made me a special inspiration room,” she said brightly. “Let me take you to see it.”

I swallowed down the nausea, forced a smile, and nodded.

When we arrived, I found this so–called “inspiration room” used to be our guest room. Now it was a vault for Selina’s jewelry.

I looked at the abundance of jewelry, feeling an indescribable bitterness. Anybody could tell how much my parents spoiled her.

“Mom keeps buying things whenever she sees something pretty. I tell her we already have too much, but she insists.” Selina lifted her chin, smiling smugly like flaunting Mom’s favoritism toward her.

I didn’t take the bait. I just wanted to get away from her and find that idol. So I pressed a hand to my stomach, faked a cramp, and retreated to my room.

I needed a different angle.

Over the next few days, I casually sketched a few ugly, throwaway drafts, nothing I’d ever submit anywhere. And somehow, Selina “accidentally” handed me the key to that jewelry room.

I didn’t refuse, waiting to see what kind of stunt she was pulling.

Then, the night before the competition, she finally made her move.

I was startled awake by her loud sobs coming from the downstairs sofa. My temples throbbed with irritation as I dragged myself out of bed and went down, trying to cut past the living room to grab some food in the kitchen.

But I didn’t make it. My mother stormed up to me and slapped me hard across the face. “You little slut. First you steal your sister’s work, now you’re stealing from your own family?!]

I pressed my tongue against the sore inside of my cheek and stared at her, cold. “Selina said her

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jewelry went missing. She gave me the key. So now I’m the thief, right?”

My mother was too furious to think straight. “So you’re admitting it?”

On the couch, Selina cried into her hands. And through her tears, she looked at me with a smug

little smile.

I smiled back, slow and sharp. “Too bad, I installed hallway camera. I’m afraid this won’t go the way you planned. Wanna watch the footage together?”

My mother and Selina both froze, the same flash of shock and panic crossing their faces.

Afraid of being exposed, Selina quickly added, “Maybe I misplaced it. It’s not Michele’s fault…”